Street photographer Yassine Alaoui Ismaili follows 16-year-old Emeer Guesmi, aka B-boy Zulu Rema, as he trains and performs breakdance moves – all without the use of his legs. At a breakdance championship in Tunisia, Casablanca-based street photographer Yassine Alaoui Ismaili noticed an unusual competitor: Emeer Guesmi, dancing without the aid of his lower legs. He started following him as he trained and performed. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Known by his dance name of Zulu Rema, 16-year-old Guesmi practices on the shores of the Mediterranean with a fellow breakdancer. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi pictured with his parents and younger brother. He lost his legs in an accident in 2002. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi in his self-decorated bedroom. After his accident, he told writer Tebourski Hosn: “I was doing nothing all the time and I couldn’t bear it so I decided to join a football team but it didn’t go well – in fact, I wasn’t really welcomed – so I quit”. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

“Then one day, one of my friends – whom I miss so much, RIP – watched me walking on my hands at home, and suggested that I join the dance workshops of our city’s cultural center in Hamem Zriba. I did, but I faced rejection for the second time, so I quit. But my friend was really supportive and we didn’t give up”. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi at his sister’s wedding. “My family is so important to me”, he says. “It is a long road so I must be surrounded by good people who inspire me”. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

He performs his moves during the wedding celebrations, with his prosthetic limbs removed. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

“I want to see more dancers sharing their passion whether it is about hip-hop dance, music or graffiti art”, he says. “Express yourself – let people know more about what you do, and about hip-hop culture”. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi looks on at another dancer, as he gets ready to compete during the UK B-Boy Championships North Africa Qualifier 2016. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Now in full Zulu Rema mode, he throws down his moves during the dance battle. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi pictured at the beach alongside his prosthetics, which are decorated with graffiti tags from his friends. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)

Guesmi is also the subject of “Hope”, a short film by Mohamed Abdullah which won the Fan Favourite award at this year’s Toronto film festival. (Photo by Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/The Guardian)